Highway Dedication Posthumously Honors
Officer Oliver Smith, Jr.
Forestville, Maryland – Today the Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, Inc. (MCVRC) hosted a highway dedication for Officer Oliver Smith, Jr. at the Maryland State Police Forestville Barrack L to posthumously honor his service.
On February 26, 1997, Officer Smith was shot and killed outside of his apartment in Forestville, Maryland, during a robbery attempt while off duty. Officer Smith was returning home from his shift, wearing civilian clothes, when three suspects approached him as he was exiting his vehicle outside of his home. During the robbery, they made him lie face down. As they searched him, they found his duty weapon and badge and then shot him three times in the back of his head. The three suspects were arrested and charged and convicted of first degree murder. Officer Smith had served as a D.C. police officer for three years and was a lifetime resident of Maryland.
Maryland Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith (District 23A), who spearheaded the highway dedication approval process, spoke at today’s event, lifting up Officer Smith and his family. Other speakers included the following: representing Congressman Steny Hoyer’s office, Deputy District Director Terence Taylor; representing Prince George’s County Councilman Sydney Harrison’s (District 9) office, Chief of Staff Eric Bowman; Prince George’s County Chief of Police Henry Stawinski, III; Maryland Delegate Erek Barron (District 24); Oliver Smith, Sr., the father of Officer Smith.
Officers from the Maryland State Police, the Prince George’s County Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia attended the highway dedication. A combined color guard of the Maryland State Police Honor Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department Honor Guard presented the colors at the event.
The dedication signs will be placed on a section of MD 337, Allentown Road.
Oliver Smith, Sr. and wife Cynthia Smith
Delegate Erek Barron
Deputy District Director of Congressman Steny Hoyer’s Office
Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith
Chief of Police Prince George’s County, Chief Henry P. Stawinski III
Chief of Staff Eric Bowman of The Honorable Sydney J. Harrison’s office
